Catch a Fish

No wonder PPP pet slogan "Roti, Kapra aur Makaan" doesnt include Education. Interestingly if only education could be guaranteed; one could take care of needs of Roti, Kapra and Makaan oneself!. One has to understand the difference of handing a fish to poor and teaching to catch one!!

They want to keep majorty of the nation illiterate so can be fooled with patty things and keep them slaves forever. Our universities are being closed while their children are being trained by best foreign universities at taxpayers’ cost & corruption money.

Education - Help Ourselves:

Responsible citizens need to develop an education fund. People can contribute nominal amount from Rs. 1 to 100 per month in the fund and the amount collected is spent on rehabilitation of schools in flooded areas and also ghost schools in other part of the country with the involvement of respected individuals in the area. The fund should be transparent and audited by a reputable audit firm. I volunteer myself but would need a group of people to join. If One million people contribute average Rs.100 per month, it sums up to Rs.100 million. And if we spend Rs. 200,000 per school per month, we can set in motion 500 schools. This is about time we take control in our hand and start contributing in small areas where we can. We know education is not on our politians’ “To Do” list, therefore, lets stop living in fool’s heaven and move our butts.

Cricket

It is little unfair to humiliate the entire nation for wrong doings a few players. Did anyone undermine Australian nation for Shane Warne & Waugh or South African for Hansi & Gibbs or Indians for Azher or Jadeyja? Lets wait for the investigation report and if found guilty, ensure exemplary punishment and move one. We ...shld abstain from unproductive habit of self-pity and making everything a matter of life or death.

Where are we heading to

I am not sure if the society we are living in can be called a civilized society. Especially seeing incidences where police - whose prime purpose of existence is to protect people from ill doings of others - abducting people; abusing young girls and people carrying on with their routine activities like nothing has happened. You don’t have to any fortuneteller to predict the end of such society. Its alarming and its horrible.

Blaspheme contest on FACEBOOK: We get disturbed when West undertakes an activity which is against our believes and can be disturbing to our beloved Prophet (SAW). But what about the teachings of the Prophet (SAW), do we care about those? What did he say about Zulm and Zalim? Didn’t he wage wars against Zalim and ordered his umma to do the same? How much pain would the Prophet feel when some out of his Umma indulge into shameful activities like abducting and abusing minor girls and the rest of the society does not care? Did we ever see a group of people protesting against such shameful acts because these things would be disturbing to the Prophet and let me say with full confidence that “much more disturbing than some stupid blasphemous contest”. I am pretty sure that a person witnessing such zulm and not standing against it will be disgraced in this life and the life thereafter.

Unless we stand united, protest against such ill acts and courts’ hang the responsibles for such barbaric acts publicly on the CHOWK, it is not going to end. These animal if not put back into cage will keep playing with life and honor of the people who they are suppose to protect. The choice we need to make is whether to wakeup now or when fire reaches to our doors?

The Real Democracy

Each day passes leaving people with a feeling of regret of wasting dreams of another generation. War against terrorism, War against extremism, War against non-democratic forces, War against this and War against that.

I am yet to see on the agenda list war against poverty, war against illiteracy, war against curable diseases killing thousands of children & adults and war against corruption.

”Qaum key Khadim” – lavishly sponsored with people’ tax money – elected to solve their problems become masters. So busy in recovering “Investments” made in election, protecting rights & wrongs of their party leaders, almost blindly and mindlessly. Political leaders shamelessly switching roles; criticizers becoming defenders and defenders becoming criticizers; quoting instances of west when suit them and questioning applicability when not; acting like saviors and submitting incorrect tax returns; undervaluing castle-like houses, having billions in bank accounts yet performing Hajj & Umrah on poor tax payers’ money; molding democracy to the shape that suits them; hacking political parties by adding name initial so heritage remains with their sons, daughters, nieces and nephews. Those who couldn't develop leadership within their parties, would develop the nation? Fooling nation or fooling themselves!

I feel there are basic flaws in our election system. Our adopted election system can bring anything in the country but the democracy. Majority of the people do not excersie voting right, not because they don’t feel it a national duty, but because they don’t find any candidate good enough to vote for. Usually election turnover remains 25 to 30%. In fact, these democratically elected people are chosen by less than 15% of the nation and claim to be representatives of 180 million people. What a pity.

I suggest introduction of an additional box/category in the ballot paper for those who believe none of the candidate is good enough to vote for. This initiative should be supplemented by severe penalties for not using voting right i.e. 3 months imprisonment this will ensure 100% turnover. If voters for such box/category exceed 50%, the election should be declared void and the candidates should be banned to contest any future election for at least 10 years. This is the only way to get rid of these Professional Qaum key Khadim and bring real democracy in Pakistan

Give Way

I had an experience when I had to wait at the motorway toll plaza for 2 hours because of an accident due to heavy fog on the road. It was a big one, I can tell from the number of ambulances trying rushing to the site. I am familiar (probably due to having opportunities of living abroad) with the rule of “Give Way” especially to emergency vehicles including ambulances, fire brigades and police. So, I squeezed my car in the left lane (with great difficulty as people in that lane undertaken best effort to not to let me get in - without understanding my motive) so the fastest lane can be left for ambulances. But I was shocked to see the behavior of other people who either were not willing to give way or were trying to exploit the chance by following ambulances to get to NO WHERE – as the way was blocked ahead.

Every time an ambulance succeeds making its way, there was a new queue of cars behind it, choking the lane again. Another siren from distance ….. but no way as the path made with great difficulty was full of the “ambulance chasers”. And you are right!! There was not enough room to squeeze on the left lanes either! Ambulance sirens keeps going the same distance but what to do? Cars do not fly unfortunately.

Injured people, at the verge of life and death, counting every second. God knows how many people would have died due to avoidable delay in medical aid but we do not understand. Why it has to be our child, brother, sister, parents, uncles or friends on the suffering end to learn a lesson? Why cant we learn from others?

We have to act now and educate people on giving way to emergency vehicles before we become victim of own apathy. Who knows it would be us or our loved one waiting for emergency aid next time!!! But it may be too late by then.

Lets pledge that we will move to the side and if possible come to complete stop as we hear any emergency vehicle siren. And urge our family, colleagues and friends to do so. Lets help ourselves by helping others.

Media

I am yet to witness the benefits of free and independent media in my country. I strongly believe that Pakistan media yet to understand the importance of code of conduct. One has to appreciate that personal gain isn’t everything and the only life lived for other’s is worth living. Money and fame can be very dangerous at times especially when become driving force. Nothing should be larger than our country’s integrity, sovereignty and respect. Problem starts when some shortsighted anchor persons try becoming larger than life and go beyond limits to increase their market value / worth. This is a great country with so many positives. Lets pledge to concentrate on positive sides and help building image of our country rather than damaging it.

Activity & Productivity

I have recently noticed that one of the leading consumer product companies has spent millions on hanging colorfull banners all over the Lahore Cantt area. I am shocked to see the money going into such kind of irrational and non-creative marketing in a country where people do not have food to eat, water to drink and enough medical care.

I feel that with this kind of amount one can undertake mega projects of public service, housekeeping (to clean our towns and cities) and childern safety.

I feel like screaming on the quality of TV ads which costs fortune. I am yet to find out who is the gainer here.... The advertisers, the consumers, the media or the country? I don’t know. But one thing I know that the amounts being spend are enough to make a difference in people life. And I am sure - if spent wisely - it will win them greater customers' loyalty and result in higher turnover.